Send my sister Sharmila to LS, Rahul to Kadapa people

Kadapa : Hitting out at AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and other opposition parties in the State, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said BJP stands for Babu (TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu), Jagan and Pawan (Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan).

Addressing a poll rally here, the Congress leader alleged the remote control of the three leaders was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Invoking the name of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), Rahul Gandhi said the former's marathon political walkathon (padayatra) across Andhra Pradesh was the inspiration for his nationwide Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"Today, Andhra Pradesh is run by the 'B' team of BJP. The BJP's 'B' team means B for Babu, J for Jagan and P for Pawan. Remote control of these three people is with Narendra Modi," Gandhi said, taking a dig at the three parties (TDP, YSRCP and Jana Sena).

He further said these leaders were under Modi's control as the latter has ED, CBI and other enforcement agencies at his disposal.

The Gandhi scion said Rajasekhara Reddy was like a brother to his father Rajiv Gandhi and both leaders shared a personal relationship also.

As and when the INDIA bloc comes to power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections, he claimed it will accord a 10-year Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh and fulfil other promises such as completing the Polavaram project, Kadapa steel plant and others.

Campaigning for party candidates for the Assembly polls in the State, he promised to waive select farm loans, free education from kindergarten to post-graduation, Rs 5 lakh housing loan for poor people and others.

Also, on assuming power at the Centre, Rahul Gandhi promised two revolutionary steps, which include making a list of all the poor in India and a woman from each of those families will be credited with Rs 1 lakh per annum.

He also promised to raise the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) wages from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per day.

Further, he promised minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, 30 lakh government jobs and doubling the income of Anganwadi and Asha workers, among others.

He called on the people of Kadapa and Andhra Pradesh to send his 'sister' and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y S Sharmila to the Lok Sabha so that she can voice the values of YSR.

Prior to the public address, Gandhi and Sharmila visited Rajasekhara Reddy's memorial (samadhi) at Idupulupaya to pay homage to the former Chief Minister. The W Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI) and CPI(M) are INDIA bloc partners in the State.

Turning his attention to the pressing issues facing Andhra Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi criticised the lack of progress under successive administrations, particularly in fulfilling the promises made post-bifurcation. He lambasted the incumbent leadership for failing to deliver on critical projects such as the Polavaram dam and Kadapa Steel Plant, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructural development and job creation.

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his unequivocal support for YS Sharmila's candidacy, urging the people of Kadapa to rally behind her in the pursuit of justice and progress. "My sister should be in Parliament," declared Rahul Gandhi, signaling his unwavering faith in Sharmila's leadership and the enduring legacy of YSR.